IOL election debate
Xolani Dlamini|Published
“If your administration fails to deliver on the promises it has made, will you step down?”
That was the question posed to the eThekwini mayoral candidates at the IOL eThekwini mayoral debate on Wednesday.
During the debate they pledged to tackle water failures, corruption and poor performance, with some saying mayors should resign if they miss party targets.
Some candidates said they would reduce crime while others promised to prioritise basic service ervices to eThekwini residents.
The candidates were also asked: "What would you do differently from the previous administration of eThekwini when given any opportunity to govern the city after the local government elections?".
Zwakele Mncwango of ActionSA said they would ensure that politicians do not interfere with the municipal administration.
"When we are in power in eThekwini, we will ensure that our leaders understand the boundaries. We will draw the line and state that our role as politicians is not to interfere with the administration, but to play an oversight role," said Mncwango.
He said that would help their party implement measures without fear or favour when an auditor general made a call.
"If officials break the laws, we will deal with them without fear or favour. We will insure plumbers to fix the water crisis in the city. If we have hired our plumbers, we will be able to respond within 48 hours to the water leaks and other water faults," he said.
Mncwango said he would step down from the mayor's seat if he did not meet the target set by his party.
Thami Mkhize of uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK) said they did not believe in cadre deployment because it ‘killed the administration and the municipality’.
"We want a person to be hired on merit. In the MK Party, we say a minimum qualification for the mayor should be a master's degree. We have implemented that process in the party," said Mkhize.
The ANC’s Thabani Nyawose said: "A good thing about experience in power, it teaches you many things. We have been in power for many years, and we have learned where things went wrong. In eThekwini, the biggest problem right now is the water issue. Hence, we have already invested a lot of money to tackle the water issues."
Nyawose said they had facilitated 98 boreholes and comprehensive plans to eradicate the water-related issues.
"The infrastructure in eThekwini is being replaced, and those are the interventions we will implement if we are voted into power on November 4. I believe that we will be elected," he said.
Alicia Kissoon of Democratic Alliance (DA), said she was currently a DA's disciplinary committee chairperson in the province.
"Everyone who does not follow the constitution and laws of our country will be removed from office, if we get elected as majority in eThekwini in the upcoming local government elections," she said.
Kissoon admitted that the DA's mayor will step down from office if he fails to meet the target set by the party.
Hlengiwe Mkhaliphi of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) said that when they take the reins in the city, officials sleeping on the job would not survive in their administration.
"We do not entertain laziness in EFF. We will not replace the tendency with a tendency. When we take power, we will remove all the rude officials. I will also ensure that no one becomes a slave in this city," she said.
The IFP’s Selvan Govender said the public needed to understand how the municipality was run so they can make their choice clear when they vote.
"If you want to get rid of a mayor, you cannot protest or march. With only two seats in the municipal council, you cannot remove the mayor. You have to arrange a motion of no confidence and have caucus support if that possible. If you want to change things in the council you need to have a majority of seats in the council," he said.
Shameen Thakur-Rajbansi of Minority Front (MF), said they would eradicate corruption if they get an opportunity to govern eThekwini.
"We will ensure that crime is reduced and basic services are delivered to eThekwini residents. If I do not meet the target set by my party during my time as a mayor, I will voluntarily resign from the office," she said.